the odyssey(奥德赛)-第43章

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they　took　their　several　ways　each　of　them　to　his　own　abode。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XIX。
　　ULYSSES　was　left　in　the　cloister；　pondering　on　the　means　whereby
with　Minerva's　help　he　might　be　able　to　kill　the　suitors。　Presently　he
said　to　Telemachus；　〃Telemachus；　we　must　get　the　armour　together　and
take　it　down　inside。　Make　some　excuse　when　the　suitors　ask　you　why　you
have　removed　it。　Say　that　you　have　taken　it　to　be　out　of　the　way　of
the　smoke；　inasmuch　as　it　is　no　longer　what　it　was　when　Ulysses　went
away；　but　has　become　soiled　and　begrimed　with　soot。　Add　to　this　more
particularly　that　you　are　afraid　Jove　may　set　them　on　to　quarrel
over　their　wine；　and　that　they　may　do　each　other　some　harm　which　may
disgrace　both　banquet　and　wooing；　for　the　sight　of　arms　sometimes
tempts　people　to　use　them。〃
　　Telemachus　approved　of　what　his　father　had　said；　so　he　called
nurse　Euryclea　and　said；　〃Nurse；　shut　the　women　up　in　their　room；
while　I　take　the　armour　that　my　father　left　behind　him　down　into　the
store　room。　No　one　looks　after　it　now　my　father　is　gone；　and　it　has
got　all　smirched　with　soot　during　my　own　boyhood。　I　want　to　take　it
down　where　the　smoke　cannot　reach　it。〃
　　〃I　wish；　child；〃　answered　Euryclea；　〃that　you　would　take　the
management　of　the　house　into　your　own　hands　altogether；　and　look　after
all　the　property　yourself。　But　who　is　to　go　with　you　and　light　you
to　the　store　room？　The　maids　would　have　so；　but　you　would　not　let
them。
　　〃The　stranger；〃　said　Telemachus；　〃shall　show　me　a　light；　when　people
eat　my　bread　they　must　earn　it；　no　matter　where　they　come　from。〃
　　Euryclea　did　as　she　was　told；　and　bolted　the　women　inside　their
room。　Then　Ulysses　and　his　son　made　all　haste　to　take　the　helmets；
shields；　and　spears　inside；　and　Minerva　went　before　them　with　a　gold
lamp　in　her　hand　that　shed　a　soft　and　brilliant　radiance；　whereon
Telemachus　said；　〃Father；　my　eyes　behold　a　great　marvel：　the　walls；
with　the　rafters；　crossbeams；　and　the　supports　on　which　they　rest
are　all　aglow　as　with　a　flaming　fire。　Surely　there　is　some　god　here
who　has　come　down　from　heaven。〃
　　〃Hush；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃hold　your　peace　and　ask　no　questions；　for
this　is　the　manner　of　the　gods。　Get　you　to　your　bed；　and　leave　me　here
to　talk　with　your　mother　and　the　maids。　Your　mother　in　her　grief
will　ask　me　all　sorts　of　questions。〃
　　On　this　Telemachus　went　by　torch…light　to　the　other　side　of　the
inner　court；　to　the　room　in　which　he　always　slept。　There　he　lay　in　his
bed　till　morning；　while　Ulysses　was　left　in　the　cloister　pondering
on　the　means　whereby　with　Minerva's　help　he　might　be　able　to　kill
the　suitors。
　　Then　Penelope　came　down　from　her　room　looking　like　Venus　or　Diana；
and　they　set　her　a　seat　inlaid　with　scrolls　of　silver　and　ivory　near
the　fire　in　her　accustomed　place。　It　had　been　made　by　Icmalius　and　had
a　footstool　all　in　one　piece　with　the　seat　itself；　and　it　was
covered　with　a　thick　fleece：　on　this　she　now　sat；　and　the　maids　came
from　the　women's　room　to　join　her。　They　set　about　removing　the
tables　at　which　the　wicked　suitors　had　been　dining；　and　took　away
the　bread　that　was　left；　with　the　cups　from　which　they　had　drunk。　They
emptied　the　embers　out　of　the　braziers；　and　heaped　much　wood　upon　them
to　give　both　light　and　heat；　but　Melantho　began　to　rail　at　Ulysses　a
second　time　and　said；　〃Stranger；　do　you　mean　to　plague　us　by　hanging
about　the　house　all　night　and　spying　upon　the　women？　Be　off；　you
wretch；　outside；　and　eat　your　supper　there；　or　you　shall　be　driven　out
with　a　firebrand。〃
　　Ulysses　scowled　at　her　and　answered；　〃My　good　woman；　why　should
you　be　so　angry　with　me？　Is　it　because　I　am　not　clean；　and　my
clothes　are　all　in　rags；　and　because　I　am　obliged　to　go　begging
about　after　the　manner　of　tramps　and　beggars　generall？　I　too　was　a
rich　man　once；　and　had　a　fine　house　of　my　own；　in　those　days　I　gave　to
many　a　tramp　such　as　I　now　am；　no　matter　who　he　might　be　nor　what　he
wanted。　I　had　any　number　of　servants；　and　all　the　other　things　which
people　have　who　live　well　and　are　accounted　wealthy；　but　it　pleased
Jove　to　take　all　away　from　me；　therefore；　woman；　beware　lest　you　too
come　to　lose　that　pride　and　place　in　which　you　now　wanton　above　your
fellows；　have　a　care　lest　you　get　out　of　favour　with　your　mistress；
and　lest　Ulysses　should　come　home；　for　there　is　still　a　chance　that　he
may　do　so。　Moreover；　though　he　be　dead　as　you　think　he　is；　yet　by
Apollo's　will　he　has　left　a　son　behind　him；　Telemachus；　who　will
note　anything　done　amiss　by　the　maids　in　the　house；　for　he　is　now　no
longer　in　his　boyhood。〃
　　Penelope　heard　what　he　was　saying　and　scolded　the　maid；　〃Impudent
baggage；　said　she；　〃I　see　how　abominably　you　are　behaving；　and　you
shall　smart　for　it。　You　knew　perfectly　well；　for　I　told　you　myself；
that　I　was　going　to　see　the　stranger　and　ask　him　about　my　husband；　for
whose　sake　I　am　in　such　continual　sorrow。〃
　　Then　she　said　to　her　head　waiting　woman　Eurynome；　〃Bring　a　seat　with
a　fleece　upon　it；　for　the　stranger　to　sit　upon　while　he　tells　his
story；　and　listens　to　what　I　have　to　say。　I　wish　to　ask　him　some
questions。〃
　　Eurynome　brought　the　seat　at　once　and　set　a　fleece　upon　it；　and　as
soon　as　Ulysses　had　sat　down　Penelope　began　by　saying；　〃Stranger；　I
shall　first　ask　you　who　and　whence　are　you？　Tell　me　of　your　town　and
parents。〃
　　〃Madam；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃who　on　the　face　of　the　whole　earth　can
dare　to　chide　with　you？　Your　fame　reaches　the　firmament　of　heaven
itself；　you　are　like　some　blameless　king；　who　upholds　righteousness；
as　the　monarch　over　a　great　and　valiant　nation：　the　earth　yields　its
wheat　and　barley；　the　trees　are　loaded　with　fruit；　the　ewes　bring
forth　lambs；　and　the　sea　abounds　with　fish　by　reason　of　his　virtues；
and　his　people　do　good　deeds　under　him。　Nevertheless；　as　I　sit　here　in
your　house；　ask　me　some　other　question　and　do　not　seek　to　know　my　race
and　family；　or　you　will　recall　memories　that　will　yet　more　increase　my
sorrow。　I　am　full　of　heaviness；　but　I　ought　not　to　sit　weeping　and
wailing　in　another　person's　house；　nor　is　it　well　to　be　thus
grieving　continually。　I　shall　have　one　of　the　servants　or　even
yourself　complaining　of　me；　and　saying　that　my　eyes　swim　with　tears
because　I　am　heavy　with　wine。〃
　　Then　Penelope　answered；　〃Stranger；　heaven　robbed　me　of　all　beauty；
whether　of　face　or　figure；　when　the　Argives　set　sail　for　Troy　and　my
dear　husband　with　them。　If　he　were　to　return　and　look　after　my　affairs
I　should　be　both　more　respected　and　should　show　a　better　presence　to
the　world。　As　it　is；　I　am　oppressed　with　care；　and　with　the
afflictions　which　heaven　has　seen　fit　to　heap　upon　me。　The　chiefs　from
all　our　islands…　Dulichium；　Same；　and　Zacynthus；　as　also　from　Ithaca
itself；　are　wooing　me　against　my　will　and　are　wasting　my　estate。　I　can
therefore　show　no　attention　to　strangers；　nor　suppliants；　nor　to
people　who　say　that　they　are　skilled　artisans；　but　am　all　the　time
brokenhearted　about　Ulysses。　They　want　me　to　marry　again　at　once；
and　I　have　to　invent　stratagems　in　order　to　deceive　them。　In　the　first
place　heaven　put　it　in　my　mind　to　set　up　a　great　tambour…frame　in　my
room；　and　to　begin　working　upon　an　enormous　piece　of　fine
needlework。　Then　I　said　to　them；　'Sweethearts；　Ulysses　is　indeed　dead；
still；　do　not　press　me　to　marry　again　immediately；　wait…　for　I　would
not　have　my　skill　in　needlework　perish　unrecorded…　till　I　have
finished　making　a　pall　for　the　hero　Laertes；　to　be　ready　against　the
time　when　death　shall　take　him。　He　is　very　rich；　and　the　women　of
the　place　will　talk　if　he　is　laid　out　without　a　pall。'　This　was　what　I
said；　and　they　assented；　whereon　I　used　to　keep　working　at　my　great
web　all　day　long；　but　at　night　I　would　unpick　the　stitches　again　by
torch　light。　I　fooled　them　in　this　way　for　three　years　without　their
finding　it　out；　but　as　time　wore　on　and　I　was　now　in　my　fourth　year；
in　the　waning　of　moons；　and　many　days　had　been　accomplished；　those
good…for…nothing　hussies　my　maids　betrayed　me　to　the　suitors；　who
broke　in　upon　me　and　caught　me；　they　were　very　angry　with　me；　so　I　was
forced　to　finish　my　work　whether　I　would　or　no。　And　now　I　do　not　see
how　I　can　find　any　further　shift　for　getting　out　of　this　marriage。
My　parents　are　putting　great　pressure　upon　me；　and　my　son　chafes　at
the　ravages　the　suitors　are　making　upon　his　estate；　for　he　is　now
old　enough　to　understand　all　about　it　and　is　perfectly　able　to　look
after　his　own　affairs；　for　heaven　has　blessed　him　with　an　excellent
disposition。　Still；　notwithstanding　all　this；　tell　me　who　you　are
and　where　you　come　from…　for　you　must　have　had　father　and　mother　of
some　sort；　you　cannot　be　the　son　of　an　oak　or　of　a　rock。〃
　　Then　Ulysses　answered；　〃madam；　wife　of　Ulysses；　since　you　persist　in
asking　me　about　my　family；　I　will　answer；　no　matter　what　it　costs
me：　people　must　expect　to　be　pained　when　they　have　been　exiles　as　long
as　I　have；　and　suffered　as　much　among　as　many　peoples。　Nevertheless；
as　regards　your　question　I　will　tell　you　all　you　ask。　There　is　a
fair　and　fruitful　island　in　mid…ocean　called　Crete；　it　is　thickly
peopled　and　there　are　nine　cities　in　it：　the　people　speak　many
different　languages　which　overlap　one　another；　for　there　are　Achaeans；
brave　Eteocretans；　Dorians　of　three…fold　race；　and　noble　Pelasgi。
There　is　a　great　town　there；　Cnossus；　where　Minos　reigned　who　every
nine　years　had　a　conference　with　Jove　himself。　Minos　was　father　to
Deucalion；　whose　son　I　am；　for　Deucalion　had　two　sons　Idomeneus　and
myself。　Idomeneus　sailed　for　Troy；　and　I；　who　am　the　younger；　am
called　Aethon；　my　brother；　however；　was　at　once　the　older　and　the　more
valiant　of　the　two；　hence　it　was　in　Crete　that　I　saw　Ulysses　and
showed　him　hospitality；　for　the　winds　took　him　there　as　he　was　on
his　way　to　Troy；　carrying　him　out　of　his　course　from　cape　Malea　and
leaving　him　in　Amnisus　off　the　cave　of　Ilithuia；　where　the　harbours
are　difficult　to　enter　and　he　could　hardly　find　shelter　from　the　winds
that　were　then　xaging。　As　soon　as　he　got　there　he　went　into　the　town
and　asked　for　Idomeneus；　claiming　to　be　his　old　and　valued　friend；　but
Idomeneus　had　already　set　sail　for　Troy　some　ten　or　twelve　days
earlier；　so　I　took　him　to　my　own　house　and　showed　him　every　kind　of
hospitality；　for　I　had　abundance　of　everything。　Moreover；　I　fed　the
men　who　were　with　him　with　barley　meal　from　the　public　store；　and
got　subscriptions　of　wine　and　oxen　for　them　to　sacrifice　to　their
heart's　content。　They　stayed　with　me　twelve　days；　for　there　was　a　gale
blowing　from　the　North　so　strong　that　one　could　hardly　keep　one's　feet
on　land。　I　suppose　some　unfriendly　god　had　raised　it　for　them；　but
on　the　thirteenth　day　the　wind　dropped；　and　they　got　away。〃
　　Many　a　plausible　tale　did　Ulysses　further　tell　her；　and　Penelope
wept　as　she　listened；　for　her　heart　was　melted。　As　the　snow　wastes
upon　the　mountain　tops　when　the　winds　from　South　East　and　West　have
breathed　upon　it　and　thawed　it　till　the　rivers　run　bank　full　with
water；　even　so　did　her　cheeks　overflow　with　tears　for　the　husband
who　was　all　the　time　sitting　by　her　side。　Ulysses　felt　for　her　and　was
for　her；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　as　hard　as　or　iron　without　letting
them　so　much　as　quiver；　so　cunningly　did　he　res